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Increasing Opportunities for Youth

143,821 youth served in quality programs

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In 2008 United Way served 143,821 youth in high quality afterschool and out-of-school time programs. Of these, over 13,000 are high risk youth. Research shows that participation in quality afterschool programs improves youths’ feelings of self-confidence, self-esteem, attitude towards school, school grades, achievement test scores, and reduced problem behaviors.  read more »

Your 2006-2007 Investment in Action:
143,821 youth served in quality programs

Charles Smith

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"My mother told me before she passed away, 'You can be anything you want to be, as long as you work hard for it.' I will carry those words in my head 'til the day I die and pass them on to my kids..."

Charles Smith's mother would be very proud of him today. His young life has come full circle from tragedy, loss and homelessness to a future filled with college plans, valuable computer skills, and a job helping others at the Massachusetts Department of Mental Retardation.  read more »

Connecting Schools and Afterschools

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United Way’s Connecting Schools and Afterschools Initiative aims to improve outcomes for children and youth by fostering relationships among schools and afterschool programs.

The initiative is grounded in findings from the 2005 Massachusetts After-School Research Study (MARS), which found that afterschool programs with stronger connections to schools had more engaging, challenging activities, higher staff engagement, and higher quality homework assistance.  read more »

Day of Action

June 22, 2008

LIVE UNITED began as a simple T-shirt—something individuals could wear to show they are part of a collective of people working to advance the common good. Since then, it has become the beginnings of a much larger movement, a mentality that we are all people, connected, interdependent, united. and that when we reach out a hand to one, we have the power to influence the condition of all.  read more »

Engaging Families initiative

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There is growing evidence that when parents are actively involved and engaged in their children’s learning, it can help youth boost their grades, improve social skills, stay in school, and improve relationships with their parents (see studies to the right).  read more »

Entrepreneurial Youth Launch Ventures with the Help of United Way

Youth in Somerville, Quincy and Boston among grant recipients
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12/15/2008

BOSTON – United Way of Massachusetts Bay & Merrimack Valley announced today that the organization will be investing $10,500 to give seven teams of entrepreneurial youth the start-up capital they need to inspire their peers, bridge the gap between elders and youth, help the environment and otherwise change the future of their communities. The youth were part of United Way’s Youth Venture Program which inspires and invests in teams of young people, ages 12-18, to start social projects that create positive, lasting change in their communities.  read more »

High-Risk Youth Assessment Report

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Also known as the "Out of Harms Way" report, this assessment is based on a research conducted by The Boston High-Risk Youth Network in 2005. The Network was created by a partnership consisting of the Black Ministerial Alliance, United Way of Massachusetts Bay, Emmanuel Gospel Center, and Boston Ten Point Coalition (hereinafter referred to as the Partners). With a three year federal Compassion Capital Fund (CCF) grant, the Partners convened over 130 people and involved them in a year-long planning process to better meet the needs of high-risk youth, ages 12-21.

How Ed Lives United

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Ed Rocha
Ed Rocha, Age 25. I LIVE UNITED by tutoring at-risk kids in my community and getting my friends to talk about the issues that affect them. I remember what it was like to bee a teen and how important it was to have guidance and support.

How Matt Borders Lives United

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Matthew Borders IV, 23
Stoughton, MA

By telling a young man who plays basketball that he can do more than just star on the court and exposing him to the opportunity to be a sports agent; by taking a young man who aspires to be a rapper and giving him the opportunity to produce, be an A&R or even an executive at his own label -- these are the ways that I Live United.

How Rev. John M. Borders Lives United

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I'm Pastor John Borders of the Morning Star Baptist Church in Mattapan and I LIVE UNITED first through body, soul, and spirit. What's important to me is making sure that there's a connection to the younger generation of our city and of our country. They need support of fathers and mothers. They need support of pastors, of teachers, of politicians, of local business people.  read more »

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